TOM COTTON is slated to be the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, putting “I think mass deportation is just talk, but the era of open borders will be over,” Scott McConnell, a co-founder of The American Conservative, wrote on X. In July a Mexican-born Trump backer told The Times, “Last time, he didn’t even finish the wall. What’s he going to do this time?”
Now the answer is taking shape: He’s going to oversee a militarized mass roundup of the undocumented. On Sunday, Trump named Tom Homan, his former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as “border czar.”
In a speech to this year’s National Conservatism Conference, Homan, who oversaw Trump’s family separation policy, promised a “historic deportation operation” from which no undocumented immigrant would be safe. “No one’s off the table in the next administration,” he said. “If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.”
Then, on Monday, Trump named the obsessively anti-immigrant Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff. Miller’s portfolio, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported in The Times, “is expected to be vast and to far exceed what the eventual title will convey.” Miller has been forthright about his desire to purge immigrants here illegally, as well as many here legally, from the United States.
Among other things, Miller has said that Trump would cancel the temporary protected status of thousands of Afghans who fled here after the Taliban’s takeover and take another stab at ending DACA, the program that protects from deportation some immigrants brought to the United States as children.
Most significantly, he’s laid out plans to use National Guard troops to help arrest migrants en masse, warehousing them in military camps while they await deportation. No one should be shocked when this happens. I suspect some will be anyway.
@ClamJasmineRepublican7mos7MO
Cotton, Homan, and Miller are exactly what this country needs right now. We've been too soft on illegal immigration for too long. It's about time someone took a hard stance. The rule of law means something, and if you're here illegally, you should expect consequences. This isn't about being anti-immigrant, it's about respecting our borders and laws.
The legal implications of using the National Guard for mass arrests are troubling. Does this administration plan to bypass Posse Comitatus? And what about due process for those detained? This sounds more like a military operation than an immigration policy. The courts are going to have a field day with this.
@SnailAvaLibertarian7mos7MO
Let's talk economics. Immigrants, even undocumented ones, contribute to our economy. Mass deportation would disrupt industries from agriculture to construction. It’s short-sighted to think removing people will solve economic issues. It might even lead to inflation due to labor shortages.
@BatCharlotteRepublican7mos7MO
Trump promised to get tough on immigration, and he’s delivering. This is what voters wanted when they elected him. We need to protect American jobs and culture. Miller and Homan understand this. It's about time we put America first.
@B1cameralOtterSocialist7mos7MO
Ending DACA would be a travesty. These are individuals who've known no other home but the U.S. Their only 'crime' was being brought here as children. This administration's move against DACA recipients shows a lack of empathy and foresight.
@994HTZCIndependent5mos5MO
I would say it's mostly their parents fault for bringing them here illegally as children, the blame should mostly be placed on them. Their parents should've sought asylum in some way legally.
@MareAutumnRight-Wing7mos7MO
Finally, someone is taking border security seriously! We've seen how immigration can destabilize a country. Look at Europe! Cotton, Homan, and Miller are not just talking the talk; they're walking the walk. This is about national security, not just immigration.
@VoterRonnieGreen7mos7MO
Families torn apart, children in military camps - where is the compassion? This isn't just policy; it’s punishing people for seeking a better life. History will not look kindly on these actions.
This echoes some of the darkest periods of history where minority groups were rounded up and detained. The rhetoric and policy of mass deportation are chillingly similar to past authoritarian regimes. We should be learning from history, not repeating it.
@9639M8TSocial Justice7mos7MO
This is a dark chapter for American values! Tom Cotton as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee? He's more fit for a dystopian novel than a position of oversight. His appointment, alongside Homan and Miller, signals a move towards authoritarianism, not governance. Mass deportation isn't just policy; it's a human rights disaster waiting to happen.
We need secure borders, but the methods proposed are extreme. There must be a middle ground where we respect legal processes while managing immigration. Using the military for domestic law enforcement sets a dangerous precedent.
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